Women Kalons, Tibetan Women Parliamentarians, and leaders of the Tibetan Women’s Association take part in the daylong discussion
DHARAMSHALA: The Women’s Empowerment Desk at the Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), organised a daylong discussion to review CTA’s ‘Women’s Empowerment Policy’. The policy is now in its 7th year of implementation since its adoption by the 13th Kashag on 15 October 2008.
Women Kalons from the present Kashag, Kalon Gyari Dolma and Kalon Dicki Chhoyang, seven Tibetan women Parliamentarians and four executive members of the Tibetan Women’s Association, participated in the discussion that took place at Nyatri Hall of Gangchen Kyishong on Saturday, 14 March.
Ms. Karma Dolma, coordinator of Women’s Empowerment Desk, Department of Home, CTA, delivered the introductory address and also facilitated the meeting.
Kalon Dicki Chhoyang, who heads the Department of Information & International Relations, in her speech emphasised on deconstructing the notion of ‘empowerment for women’ to make it cater to a wider audience.
Ms. Gyari Dolma, the Kalon for Department of Home, spoke at length about the background, rationale for organising the panel discussion and update on the actions undertaken by the C.T.A. for the implementation of Women’s Empowerment Policy. She expressed her expectations from the meeting to formulate a set of do-able recommendations / action plan to ensure the effective implementation of the policy in achieving the intended results.
The discussion dwelled on wide-ranging issues affecting Tibetan women in exile- gender stereotypes, sexual violence, imbalanced political participation and representation, and reiterated CTA’s commitment to address the social imperatives and thereby harness the power and potential of Tibetan women. The participants discussed the way forward in bringing about tangible changes in the exile community in creating gender equality and achieving women’s empowerment in all realms of social, political, education and economic life and significantly in strengthening the social foundations of the Tibetan political struggle.
The day-long discussion concluded with Kalon Gyari Dolma’s remark that the set of recommendations received during the discussion will be taken up for further discussion/directives of the Kashag.
Report filed by: Women’s Empowerment Desk, Department of Home
